Nat Geo to Debut True-Crime Series Missing Dial

WASHINGTON, D.C.: National Geographic Channel is entering the true-crime space, premiering the six-part docuseries Missing Dial later this month.

The six-part series will take viewers into the investigation of the mysterious disappearance of Cody Dial, a 27-year-old outdoorsman who went missing in Costa Rica in 2014. Dial was the son of National Geographic Explorer Roman Dial. The program will follow the missing man’s parents as they head back to Costa Rica with a team of highly trained independent investigators and a camera crew in tow.

The series will debut on the network May 22, with a day-after-air premiere scheduled for Hulu and other platforms.

“Missing Dial is more than just a true-crime series where filmmakers look back at past cases,” explained Tim Pastore, the president of original programming and production for National Geographic Channel. “National Geographic not only captured the sensitive and personal journey of the Dials, but also exposed in real time the nuances of this intricate and delicate missing-person investigation as clues and leads were being unearthed.”

“I hoped private investigators and the presence of a film crew would add urgency and create new momentum in the search,” explained Roman Dial. “I was right—within a week, we received a significant break in the case.”